hello, i'm anjana gadgil. the uk defence secretary has announced that hundreds of british—made air defence missiles are being shipped to ukraine. it follows one of the biggest aerial attacks by russia since the war began. at least 30 people have been killed and more than 160 injured in a wave of deadly explosions across the country. ukraine's air force says it has "never seen so many locations targeted simultaneously". cities hit include kyiv, lviv in the west, odesa in the south, and dnipro, kharkiv and zaporizhzhia in eastern ukraine. a maternity hospital and shopping mall were among buildings damaged and destroyed. poland has said an object entered the nato country's airspace overnight. a polish general says the object, which is likely to have been a russian missile, spent less than three minutes over polish territory. from kyiv, our ukraine correspondent

james waterhouse reports. it is and always has been the whole of ukraine which is under attack. kyiv is still moscow's biggest prize. air defences have improved here, but this attack proved too much. translation: i was woken up at half . past seven by a horrible sound, . it was so frightening, the missile was flying and everything was buzzing, so noisy. you are left in no doubt that this was a direct missile strike, the scale of the damage cover the size of the blast zone, the heat caused. you are more used to seeing damage caused by falling debris when a missile is intercepted, but this reflects the scale of this russian attack, and scenes like this are being replicated right across ukraine. a lucky escape in kharkiv in the north—east. this city is familiar with missile strikes,

but not 20 in a single morning. a shopping centre in dnipro in the east, as well as a maternity hospital were hit. it didn't stop there. this is the port city of odesa in the south where a residential block was struck. even in lviv in the west which is usually spared the worst of this invasion, wasn't immune this time. ukraine's air force says it has never seen so many missiles. in a war where a moscow routinely strikes cities it can't occupy, that is saying something. president biden has just responded to the attacks on ukraine. he said... "after nearly two years of this devastating war, putin's objective remains unchanged. he seeks to obliterate ukraine

and subjugate its people. he must be stopped." president biden warned... "unless congress takes urgent action in the new year, we will not be able to continue sending the weapons..." "congress must step up and act without any further delay." we can now speak to brendan kearney — a retired colonel with the us marine corps. isle of strong words from presidentjoe biden there, what he trying to send out? i biden there, what he trying to send out? ~ , , biden there, what he trying to send out? ~' , , , out? i think the president is justifiably — out? i think the president is justifiably frustrated - out? i think the president is justifiably frustrated with i out? i think the president is - justifiably frustrated with congress that went on their christmas break without passing that legislation that zelensky had made a trip to washington, dc to try to obtain. so he is frustrated and wants to send a message of support in unwavering support for ukraine and he is hopeful that when congress gets back from its recess that this will be

the number one priority on their agenda. the number one priority on their aaenda. ., ~' , the number one priority on their aaenda. ., ~ , , ., agenda. how likely is it that congress — agenda. how likely is it that congress will _ agenda. how likely is it that congress will listen - agenda. how likely is it that congress will listen and - agenda. how likely is it that| congress will listen and then agenda. how likely is it that - congress will listen and then take action after these words and actions by russia? action after these words and actions b russia? ., , ., action after these words and actions b russia? . , ., ., , . by russia? that is hard to predict. there is more _ by russia? that is hard to predict. there is more support _ by russia? that is hard to predict. there is more support in - by russia? that is hard to predict. there is more support in congressj there is more support in congress for ukraine than is being discussed right now. what the republicans and some democrats quietly are doing is they are trying to force the president's hand by linking the funding legislation to what is going on in the southern border which is an absolute disaster. for the us, with this completely unhindered flow of immigrants across the border. so it is politics at its worst. but i think what will happen is you will see the congress eventually go in and pass the legislation and give ukraine most, if not all of what it wants. is ukraine most, if not all of what it wants. , , .,

ukraine most, if not all of what it wants. , _,, ., ,, ., _ wants. is this a personal mission by a president — wants. is this a personal mission by a president biden _ wants. is this a personal mission by a president biden or _ wants. is this a personal mission by a president biden or is _ wants. is this a personal mission by a president biden or is it _ wants. is this a personal mission by a president biden or is it purely - a president biden or is it purely political? i a president biden or is it purely olitical? ~' . ., , political? i think with politicians, i'm not political? i think with politicians, i'm not sure _ political? i think with politicians, i'm not sure you _ political? i think with politicians, i'm not sure you can _ political? i think with politicians, i'm not sure you can say - political? i think with politicians, i'm not sure you can say you - political? i think with politicians, i'm not sure you can say you can | i'm not sure you can say you can separate those things. i think number one it is purely political. he is going into an election year, this pulls out here in the united states are awful, his performances by democrats and republicans are acknowledged as are awful. ukraine is one of the few things he has been consistent on so we will have to wait and see how this all develops. the republican sense of blood in the water over the southern border issue so they will continue to punch biden in the nose, so to speak, over these efforts in which he is purportedly going ahead with. 50 a efforts in which he is purportedly going ahead with.— efforts in which he is purportedly going ahead with. so a huge wave of attacks overnight _ going ahead with. so a huge wave of attacks overnight on _ going ahead with. so a huge wave of attacks overnight on several - going ahead with. so a huge wave of attacks overnight on several cities i attacks overnight on several cities across ukraine, how, in your view,

do you think the war is going for president putin and also for ukrainians? i president putin and also for ukrainians?— president putin and also for ukrainians? ~ , . ., , ukrainians? i think this clearly was a response — ukrainians? i think this clearly was a response by _ ukrainians? i think this clearly was a response by putin _ ukrainians? i think this clearly was a response by putin to _ ukrainians? i think this clearly was a response by putin to show- ukrainians? i think this clearly was a response by putin to show that l ukrainians? i think this clearly wasl a response by putin to show that he is still a powerful man. he is still a player. the russians were embarrassed by that successful ukrainian assault on that landing shipjust a couple ukrainian assault on that landing ship just a couple of days ago so you can almost always predict when the russians strike back hard. it is because they have been hit hard. the ukrainians, as usual, did a superb job with no fleet themselves, they had managed to sync over 20% of the russian black sea fleet. so this is a continuation of the russian way of war which is putin as a boly attacking primarily civilian targets, residential areas occurred, city hospitals and schools also attacked. so it is a shame, a

tragedy, but there is nothing, not a single thing that is a surprise, other than maybe the magnitude of the attacks. but these missiles are hard to replace so russia really stepped up its game for this particular set of attacks. figs stepped up its game for this particular set of attacks. as we enter into _ particular set of attacks. as we enter into 2024, _ particular set of attacks. as we enter into 2024, what - particular set of attacks. as we enter into 2024, what are - particular set of attacks. as we enter into 2024, what are yourj enter into 2024, what are your predictions of what may happen in this war? i predictions of what may happen in this war? ~ ., ., ., this war? i think we are going to see a continuation _ this war? i think we are going to see a continuation of— this war? i think we are going to see a continuation of a - this war? i think we are going to l see a continuation of a stalemate, at least of the winter months. so i think april and may will bring better weather, a resurgence of ukrainian efforts to push russians out of those occupied territories. there will be technological advances to show on the ukrainian side primarily with the f—16 aircraft that their pilots have been undergoing training throughout the west. and that will be a bit of a game changer. does he guarantee anything? know. idon't game changer. does he guarantee anything? know. i don't think any particular weapon system does. but

what it will do is greatly enhance the ukrainian potential for what it will do is greatly enhance the ukrainian potentialfor air the ukrainian potential for air superiority the ukrainian potentialfor air superiority over ukraine. if that does take place, that this going to put the russians in a much more perilous tactical position than they have been in the past. but this is going to go on for a while. it is not ending very quickly unless something happens to putin. thank ou ve something happens to putin. thank you very much _ something happens to putin. thank you very much for _ something happens to putin. thank you very much for your— something happens to putin. thank you very much for your time - something happens to putin. thank you very much for your time and . you very much for your time and expertise. the united nations says an estimated 150,000 palestinians are being forced to flee areas of central gaza, as israeli forces advance on refugee camps there. an israeli air strike is reported to have killed 20 displaced people in rafah — a town that many people have fled to in recent days. talks to stop the fighting are reported to have restarted in egypt — though there's no indication of progress. 0ur middle east correspondent, yolande knell has sent this report — which does contain distressing

images. gathering in disbelief at the scene of another israeli strike. this is rafah, crowded with displaced gazans. last night, the scenes here were frantic, with 20 people killed including children. 0thers somehow making it out alive. amid all this suffering, ordinary palestinians ask when the war will stop. "the situation has gone beyond all limits," says samad. "we're asking the world to protect us and stop the aggression. we're helpless." 0ngoing fighting means little aid has been reaching gaza city. new pictures show the desperate looting when this convoy finally arrived. the vast majority of gazans have now been forced from their homes. people here have been setting up new makeshift camps as they've fled from advancing israeli troops. but new diplomatic efforts

are taking shape even as the war rages on. a hamas delegation is now in cairo after egypt, a key mediator with israel, proposed a new ceasefire deal. crowd chants. in israel there is pressure to find a way to bring home the 100—plus hostages still in gaza. those released during a truce last month say they endured harsh conditions while held captive by hamas fighters. mia schem now accuses all gazans of being complicit with the armed group, something many would deny. translation: it's families under hamas control. - you know in retrospect i realised i was staying with a family. i was asking myself, why am i at a family's house? why are there children and a woman here? israel says its aim in gaza remains to dismantle hamas's military and governing capabilities. but for now, palestinian civilians are paying a huge price — forced to flee from their homes with no safe place to go. yolande knell, bbc news, jerusalem.

israel says it has has struck hezbollah militants in southern lebanon in response to missiles fired over the border. these pictures released by the israeli defense forces show them striking what they describe as hezbollah infrastructure near wadi hamul in lebanon. israel says they hit a number of targets including launch sites and a military compound. let's get more on this with gemma connell in rafah, in the southern gaza strip. she is the team leaderfor the un office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs. thank you forjoining us. first of all, what is the situation in the humanitarian situation in rafah where you are now? the humanitarian situation in rafah _ where you are now? the humanitarian situation in rafah is _ where you are now? the humanitarian situation in rafah is a _ where you are now? the humanitarian situation in rafah is a human - situation in rafah is a human catastrophe. what we see right now is the continued arrival of people

who have already fled three, four or five times. the estimate nearly 10,000 people a day have been arriving just in these last days into united nations shelters and many more are arriving into places outside of that will stop setting up makeshift shelters on the beach, any spot of land that is still vacant. even now, literally on the roads, they were previously on roundabouts and medians in foot paths but as those have been congested with all of the shelters and everyone who has sought refuge here, we know how people literally setting up shelters on the roads. so the situation in rafah is nothing other than catastrophic. with well over 1 million people here in desperate, desperate need and also most critically in fear for their lives. we know that the idf have asked people in central gaza to go south, where is it safe for them to go, is there anywhere for them to go? i

there anywhere for them to go? i do not believe — there anywhere for them to go? h gr not believe that anyone on this planet would say at this moment in time that there is any safe place in gaza. just earlier you reported on the air strike here in rafah last night. there continue to be air strikes and places that are supposed to be safe. just the other day i myself was at the hospital in khan younis in the day after i visited there was an air strike right out there was an air strike right out the front that killed many, many people. all of these air strikes, all of these attacks in areas that are not under evacuation orders, that are supposed to be safe, indicate to anyone that there is currently no safe place in gaza. so there are air strikes and of course there are air strikes and of course there are air strikes and of course there are also ground operations and fighting between israeli forces and palestinian armed groups. what is the situation like for humanitarian groups such as your own and aid agencies in terms of helping people there? ., ., , ,

there? our endeavour is so hugely comlex there? our endeavour is so hugely complex and _ there? our endeavour is so hugely complex and complicated - there? our endeavour is so hugely complex and complicated it - there? our endeavour is so hugely complex and complicated it is - complex and complicated it is difficult to describe to anyone outside of gaza. the ground operations that have now commenced in the middle area make it even more so. just yesterday, our colleagues who were returning from a delivery to the north were shot at by is really forces on their way back to the south. that indicates the level of intensity of this conflict —— israel forces. but even more important is what people here are facing and just this afternoon i was in a hospital and while there, we had people being brought in, two boys 14 and 16 years old who had just been hit out on the street whilst trying to get food for their families. as i have set, every day since i have a rise in gaza on the 4th of december, this is why this war must end. because the civilian toll is unconscionable. fin war must end. because the civilian toll is unconscionable.— toll is unconscionable. on the incident on — toll is unconscionable. on the incident on the _ toll is unconscionable. on the incident on the un _ toll is unconscionable. on the incident on the un convoy - toll is unconscionable. on the i incident on the un convoy being targeted, we have not had a response from israel itself, have you heard from israel itself, have you heard from israel, has been addressed by

the un to israel? it from israel, has been addressed by the un to israel?— the un to israel? it certainly has been addressed _ the un to israel? it certainly has been addressed by _ the un to israel? it certainly has been addressed by the _ the un to israel? it certainly has been addressed by the un - the un to israel? it certainly has been addressed by the un to - the un to israel? it certainly has i been addressed by the un to israel because it is critical that we are able to move everywhere in gaza to deliver assistance as you rightly highlighted, there are still tens of thousands in need, hundreds of thousands in need, hundreds of thousands people north of the middle so we must continue to strive to reach those people and further, we must be able to move safely. so we have indeed in dresses and we understand that they are looking into it, but it is an imperative that we are giving the assurances that we are giving the assurances that we are giving the assurances that we will be able to move through these areas and deliver assistance to people who, at this point, are not only desperate, but are starving and in dire need of assistance in order to survive.— order to survive. thank you very much for _ order to survive. thank you very much for your— order to survive. thank you very much for your time, _ order to survive. thank you very much for your time, a _ order to survive. thank you very much for your time, a team - order to survive. thank you very i much for your time, a team leader for the un office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

let's look at some other stories making news. a clean—up operation is taking place after around 100 homes were damaged by a tornado in stalybridge, in greater manchester, during storm gerrit. it tore roofs off some houses, blew over trees and damaged cars. thousands of homes in wales and scotland were left without power. the chief inspector of prisons for england and wales has called for a fundamental re—orientation in the way the system is run. charlie taylor said the high availability of drugs in some prisons was a barrier to rehabilitation. and he said many inmates were failing to learn to read and not developing the skills they need for a life of work, rather than crime. the home of the manchester city footballer, jack grealish, has been broken into while he was playing in his side's 3—1 win against everton. according to local media, a million pounds worth ofjewellery and watches were stolen. no arrests have yet been made.

here in the uk, tributes have been paid to a man who died after a car hit a group of people in the northern city of sheffield. police say christian marriott had stopped to help an unconscious woman after an argument between two groups of people. his family have paid tribute. saying the circumstances of his death "show the sort of man he was — going to help rather than to turn away." two men have been arrested on suspicion of murder. 0livia richwald has the latest from sheffield. this is college close, where chris marriott was hit the father of two young boys have a strong christian faith. when he saw an unconscious woman while out on a walk with his family, he rushed to help her and give first aid. but

wealth was trying to save her life, he lost his own. his boss said the it manager would always help others. chris's whole raison d'etre was to help others. he would sort of see anybody and be prepared to go and help. i think hejust had a heart for people. this is where he was hit and killed. a wedding party had been taking place in a house in this cul—de—sac. it descended into violence and disorder and that spilt out into the street. chris was just an innocent passer—by. he street. chris was 'ust an innocent passer-by.— passer-by. he was being a good samaritan _ passer-by. he was being a good samaritan and _ passer-by. he was being a good samaritan and he _ passer-by. he was being a good samaritan and he lost _ passer-by. he was being a good samaritan and he lost his - passer-by. he was being a good samaritan and he lost his life. i passer-by. he was being a good i samaritan and he lost his life. and it's samaritan and he lost his life. and it'sjust _ samaritan and he lost his life. and it'sjust a — samaritan and he lost his life. and it'sjust a big loss samaritan and he lost his life. and it's just a big loss to the family and to— it's just a big loss to the family and to the _ it's just a big loss to the family and to the community as a whole. in and to the community as a whole. a statement and to the community as a whole. in a statement his family said...

0ne one man aged 23 remains in police custody. a55—year—old man has been released on bail. a good samaritan, he died trying to save a woman's life. she is in hospital in a life—threatening condition. donald trump's 2024 election campaign says it will file a legal challenge to a ruling by the state of maine to prevent him from contesting the republican primary there. maine is the second state to announce such a move, after colorado, with officials in both citing a clause in the constitution which bans those who have engaged in insurrection from taking political office. the us supreme court is likely to make the ultimate decision as to whether he can run for president. live now to our correspondent in washington, shingai nyoka. first of all, what is the background to this decision by the state of

maine to ban him from running there? i think the significance mainly is that this particular decision is the first that has ever been taken by a state official to ban a presidential candidate from appearing on a primary ballot. the official who made this decision, the secretary of state who is a democrat, ruled that according to a provision in the constitution, anyone who has been found to have engaged or supported a rebellion against the state is not eligible to stand on the primary ballot. this came as a result of a public hearing after several registered voters apply to her office challenging donald trump's eligibility to stand. haifa office challenging donald trump's eligibility to stand.— eligibility to stand. how have donald trump _ eligibility to stand. how have donald trump and _ eligibility to stand. how have donald trump and his - eligibility to stand. how have donald trump and his team | eligibility to stand. how have - donald trump and his team reacted? donald trump and his team reacted? donald trump and his team reacted? donald trump himself has not said

anything. but he has, over the course of the day, been posting on his social media platform truth social, showing the poles in which she has surged. he is the front runner in the publican party, but in several swing states he is also a head of president biden. but this is, a wider argument made by his supporters, that this is a ploy by the democratic party to prevent him from standing in these elections in november 2024. from standing in these elections in november2024. but from standing in these elections in november 2024. but it is a very divisive issue and we have heard arguments on both sides of the aisle where among them, some democrats have also said that they do not believe that this is a decision that the state, that a state official should make. they say that this should make. they say that this should be a decision that should be made by congress. it also that donald trump, even though he is accused of engaging in in insurrection, has not been formally

charged or convicted. he does face a separate case in which he is accused of trying to overthrow the 2020 elections, he is pleaded not guilty and so, what will happen now is that this case is likely to be appealed at court at the supreme court which will likely decide who really has the power to make these decisions. there are several other states in which former president trump has been allowed to run, but dozens of other still have to make that decision. . ~ other still have to make that decision. ., ,, , ., , other still have to make that decision. . ~' , ., , . decision. thank you very much. our washington — decision. thank you very much. our washington correspondent - decision. thank you very much. our washington correspondent there. i the heiress of the beauty brand l'0real has become the first woman in the world to hold a 100 billion dollarfortune — that's according to the bloomberg billionaire's index. emily brown reports. rhe first woman in the world to hold a $100 billion fortune — francoise bettencourt meyers. she's also ranked the 12th richest person globally, according to the bloomberg billionaires index.

her grandfather founded the french beauty empire l'0real, and she's the vice chairperson on the company's board. l'0real�*s shares rose to a record high in paris on thursday, and the firm has seen its sales rebound after the pandemic, when people under lockdown were using less make—up. now, the 70—year—old heiress has been named on this list. this is the bloomberg billionaires index. it's a daily ranking of the world's richest people. and the top of the list is dominated by men in the tech industry from the us. and sitting at the very top is elon musk, spacex and tesla chief executive, who's now worth $232 billion. but what about the other women on the list? well, seven places behind francoise is alice walton. she's the heiress to the walmart fortune. she's now worth $70 billion. closely behind alice walton isjulia flesher koch. she's worth $66.6 billion. she's the widow of david koch,

former chief executive of koch industries. and in 26th place on the bloomberg billionaires index is jacqueline badger mars. her grandfather founded the mars confectionary company. now, it's worth noting that of the 500 people named on this list, more than 180 of them are from the us, china provided 52 and britain 17. us national park service rangers have charged formerjames bond actor pierce brosnan with trespassing in yellowstone national park. mr brosnan was charged with going off trail near the mammoth hot springs and has been ordered to appear in court in wyoming next month. the hot springs are part of the park's thermal features that include geysers, steam vents and scalding mud pools. more than 20 people have been killed after falling into the park's springs.

the us military report space plane has blasted off from florida on at some mission. it was carried into orbit by a space x falcon heavy rocket for the first time. the pentagon says the orbital vehicle will carry out a series of classified experiments during its mission. its last trip lasted more than 900 days. hello there. love it or hate it — new year's eve is just around the corner. and once again, it looks likely that the weather is going to play a leading role when pulling down the final curtain of this year, because this weekend we are likely to see further heavy rain. snow is likely even at lower levels in the north for a time. and once again, the winds are a feature. it's this area of low pressure that's drifting towards our shores and it will gradually move its way steadily east. ahead of it — brief ridge of high pressure that's going to allow for those temperatures in scotland to fall well below freezing. a cold, icy, but hopefully sunny start to your new year's eve. that's where the best of the drier weather will be.

cloud and rain gathers out to the west, some of it really heavy across north—west england, wales, south—west england, accompanied by gales, particularly on exposed coast. but central and south—eastern england will stay dry and bright and still relatively warm with 11—12 degrees celsuis. a colder story in scotland. and where that frontal system then bumps into that cold air, that's when we're likely to see the risk of significant snow for a time, and it may well cause some disruption even at lower levels. now, it will gradually turn back to rain as we start to see some milder air pushing in. but as i say, there could be some issues. keep abreast of the weather forecast and tune into your bbc local radio station. on sunday, the low pressure still centred up into the north west, slightly milder start for most of us, 2—9 degrees first thing on sunday morning. but that low sitting to the north—west will continue to push in a frequent rush of showers for our new year's eve. so the showers out to the west

and some of these will gradually feed their way steadily eastwards as we go through the afternoon. sheltered eastern areas, staying relatively dry and bright. most of the frequent showers out to the west, windy along channel coasts — temperatures between 8—10 degrees. some of these showers will push east as we go through the evening. frequent rash of showers into northern ireland and western scotland, but north—east scotland faring a little better than of late. dry — we should keep some sunshine and it should stay largely dry into the evening. now, as we move into new year's day — on the whole, a quieter story. need keep an eye on this frontal system down to the south, but for many it will be slightly cooler and slightly quieter, but there's still going to be some rain around at times. take care.

this is bbc news. the headlines... is more detail appears about the attacks, president biden urges to step up military aid to ukraine. a good samaritan that died while helping a stranger in chef field is paid tribute. he devoted his life to helping others. and we are out with a sniffer dog uncovering illegal e

cigarettes. now on bbc news — sportsday. hello and welcome to sportsday — i'm hugh ferris. 0ur headlines this evening... a first taste of the old firm — can philippe clement continue rangers' rise against celtic tomorrow? katie boulter seals a united cup win for britain over australia after her teammate beats her boyfriend. australia end their big year with a series win over pakistan as captain cummins proves decisive at the mcg.

hello again.